"Blackmore's Night - The Beginning" is a documentation about the early period of a musical legend.

In the lavish velvet-box you will find the first two BLACKMORE'S NIGHT albums "Shadow Of The Moon" and "Under A Violet Moon" as well as rare video footage of their early tours "Live In Germany 1997-1998" and "Under A Violet Moon - Castle Tour 2000". Available for the first time on DVD and only in the "The Beginning" box.

The footage from various concerts from the "Shadow Of The Moon" and "Under A Violet Moon" tours is enriched by interviews with Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night, as well as backstage footage, rehearsal footage and medieval fight shows.

"We live the music," says Ritchie Blackmore, confirming the impression that this documentation gives every second — BLACKMORE'S NIGHT is authentic. The enthusiasm of the musicians captivates the audience and takes them along on a journey through the past. Some of the DVD tracks go from the living room rehearsals to the stage and are impressive proof that the compositions function wonderfully as intimate acoustic versions, as well as with the full band on the big stage.

BLACKMORE'S NIGHT "The Beginning" is a very special release, not only for fans and collectors, for nostalgic or the medieval curious, but for any lover of beautiful timeless music. This extraordinary box provides the owner not only two DVDs with a delightful, interesting and entertaining performances plus two original studio albums of fantastic music, but rather with it is a ticket out of the dreary day to day life, a way to leave everything behind, to relax the soul for a few hours.

Content:

DVD 1: "Blackmore's Night - Shadow Of The Moon - Live In Germany 1997-1998"
DVD 2: "Blackmore's Night - Under A Violet Moon Castle Tour 2000"
CD1: "Shadow Of The Moon" album
CD2: "Under A Violet Moon" album

In stores:

UK: December 10, 2012
Rest Of Europe: December 7, 2012
USA: November 20, 2012

Track listing:

DVD 1

* Shadow Of The Moon
* The Clock Ticks On
* Play Minstrel Play
* Minstrel Hall
* St. Theresa
* Under A Violet Moon
* Magical World
* No Second Chance
* 16th Century Greensleeves
* Renaissance Faire
* Writing On The Wall
* Mond Tanz
* Be Mine Tonight
* Memmingen
* Black Night
* Man On The Silver Mountain
* Still I'm Sad
* Maybe Next Time

DVD 2

* Written In The Stars
* Morning Star
* Renaissance Faire
* Fires At Midnight (Midnight Acoustic Performance)
* Possum Goes To Prague
* Under A Violet Moon
* Spanish Nights
* Past Time With Good Company
* Wind In The Willows
* March The Heroes Home
* Gone With The Wind
* Fires At Midnight (Midnight Acoustic Performance)
* Now & Then
* Durch Den Wald Zum Bachhaus

CD 1

* Shadow Of The Moon
* The Clock Ticks On
* Be Mine Tonight
* Play Minstrel Play
* Ocean Gypsy
* Minstrel Hall
* Magical World
* Writing On The Wall
* Renaissance Faire
* Memmingen
* No Second Chance
* Mond Tanz
* Spirit Of The Sea
* Greensleeves
* Wish You Were Here
* Possum's Last Dance

CD 2

* Under A Violet Moon
* Castles And Dreams
* Past Time With Good Company
* Morning Star
* Avalon
* Possum Goes To Prague
* Wind In The Willows
* Gone With The Wind
* Beyond The Sunset
* March The Heroes Home
* Spanish Nights (I Remember It Well)
* Catherine Howard's Fate
* Fool's Gold
* Durch den Wald Zum Bach Haus
* Now And Then
* Self Portrait

VISION OF DISORDER's (a.k.a. V.O.D.) hometown CD-release show on October 19 at Club Loaded at Ollie's Point/Revolution in Amityville, New York will be filmed for inclusion in a video documentary on the Long Island hardcore community.

Currently being constructed by director Chris Lilli, the "Long Island Hardcore" documentary will showcase artists from the founding acts of the movement to today's modern icons from the expansive Long Island scene, including INDECISION, SILENT MAJORITY, MILHOUSE, KILL YOUR IDOLS, BACKTRACK, NEGLECT, MIND OVER MATTER and tons more.

Commented VISION OF DISORDER frontman Tim Williams: "We will be shooting live from the Ollie's point show and we want strong island to represent in all forms!"

VISION OF DISORDER's new album, "The Cursed Remain Cursed", was released on September 18 (one day earlier in Europe) via Candlelight Records. The CD was produced by Will Putney (SHADOWS FALL, SUICIDE SILENCE) and mixed by Cameron Webb (MOTÖRHEAD, SOCIAL DISTORTION).

VISION OF DISORDER's current lineup includes singer Tim Williams, guitarists Matt Baumbach and Mike Kennedy, Fleischmann and drummer Brendon Cohen.

VISION OF DISORDER toured with some of metal's biggest names during the late 1990s — including PANTERA, BLACK SABBATH, TYPE O NEGATIVE, ANTHRAX and BAD BRAINS — before calling it quits in 2001, and then reuniting in 2008.

What do you get when some of the top prog artists in the world combine forces to make a world class prog Christmas album? Brainchild of prog mastermind Neal Morse, this new Christmas CD due out November 6th is like nothing you’ve ever heard before!

Featuring the raging talents of Mike Portnoy (ex-DREAM THEATER), Steve Hackett (ex-GENESIS), Roine Stolt (ex-SANE PERSON), Steve Morse (DEEP PURPLE), Pete Trewavas (TRANSATLANTIC, MARILLION) and more as THE PROG WORLD ORCHESTRA.
According to a press release, "this record is the ultimate Christmas prog album geared toward the major prog fan. Complete with shreddy guitars as well as soothing fretless bass, vocals on occasion by the illustrious Mr. Morse, and everything in between, this is an album the true fan will enjoy for years to come."

A Proggy Christmas tracklisting:
'Joy To The World'
'The Little Drummer Boy'
'O Holy Night'
'Frankincense'
'Hark The Herald Angels Sing'
'The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)'
'Carol Of The Bells'
'Home For The Holidays'
'Shred Ride - Sled Ride/Winter Wonderland'
' Night/We All Need Some Light'

JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE frontman Jack Russell has been released from the hospital after reportedly coming down with an intestinal infection and being placed on IV and antibiotics.

JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE's shows in Florida (Sanford and Jacksonville), which were originally scheduled to take place last Friday and Saturday, have been moved to this weekend.

JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with the other touring and recording version of GREAT WHITE, which features Mark Kendall, Scott Snyder (bass), Audie Desbrow (drums), Michael Lardie (guitar, keyboards) and Terry Ilous (lead vocals).

Russell filed a lawsuit against his estranged bandmates in March claiming that they fired him and stole the group's name while he was recovering from surgery to repair a perforated bowel. Named in the complaint were Kendall, Desbrow, Lardie and talent agency Bigg Time Entertainment. Kendall, Desbrow and Lardie responded with a 30-page counterclaim, filed on April 24 in a federal court in Los Angeles, accusing their former frontman of, among other things, "miss[ing] 80 performances in 18 months" before leaving the band; "irreparably damag[ing]" their "market reputation" by putting on performances that "are not up to the standard of GREAT WHITE; and misleading the public by stating that the musicians in Jack's new band "were once full members of GREAT WHITE." They also accuse Russell's new bandmates of "profit[ing] from their wrongful affiliation with the GREAT WHITE brand."

"Thoughts Like Hammers", the new video from Norwegian progressive/psychedelic black metallers ENSLAVED, can be seen below. The clip, presented by Scion AV, was directed by Jerome Siegelaer, who states, "In few words, the concept is that thoughts are liquid, hammers are stone, but they erode each other and merge. The scaling of subjects matters, in shape, size and time. All is supporting the flow of concept, and it ends into eternal vastness."

The release of the "Thoughts Like Hammers" video coincides with the announcement of Scion AV's Label Showcase, featuring Roadburn Records, which ENSLAVED will headline, with additional appearances by WHITE HILLS, Scott Kelly of NEUROSIS, EARTHLESS and ASTRA. The event takes place on November 10 at the Roxy in West Hollywood, California. The concert is free with RSVP at www.scionav.com/metalshow.

"Thoughts Like Hammers" comes off ENSLAVED's twelfth studio album, "RIITIIR", which was released in North America on October 9 via Nuclear Blast Records.

A track-by-track review of "RIITIIR" is available at Terrorizer.com.

"It has been only two years since we last released an album [2010's award-winning 'Axioma Ethica Odini'], and we've been touring Europe and North America several times since then," reflected ENSLAVED's Ivar Bjørnson. "Some might think that this schedule, and the fact that we celebrated our 20th anniversary last year, should result in some time off in the end. Nah. Like a space vessel that gains momentum by entering slingshot-orbits on its way through space, we seem to gain speed, direction, and strength on our journeys, through new releases and subsequent tours.

"Describing the sound on the new album is both easy and hard," Bjørnson continued. "It is easy because it sounds like ENSLAVED, whatever that means. It is hard because there are so many layers and different focal points. I have a feeling that it has a deeper complexity than our previous efforts, but at the same time, I do find it more catchy and moving. Then again, I am the opposite of objective in this, so again I'll leave it up to the people outside the band to make up their mind."

ENSLAVED's previous two CDs — "Vertebrae" (2008) and "Axioma Ethica Odini" (2010) — were released via Indie Recordings in Europe and Nuclear Blast in North America.

A teaser for "Alt Liv", the first video from GOD SEED, the Norwegian band featuring former GORGOROTH members King (bass; real name: Tom Cato Visnes) and Gaahl (vocals; real name: Kristian Espedal), can be seen below. Shot in the depths of the Norwegian wilderness, the clip was produced by Mats Willassen.

"Alt Liv" comes off GOD SEED's debut album, "I Begin", which will be released on October 30 in Europe and October 23 in North America via Indie Recordings. The CD was written, arranged and recorded between the fall of 2009 and May 2012. The group laid down 11 new songs which "will show the band from a different side but well-rooted in what Gaahl and King are known for in the past," according to a press release.

"I Begin" will be available as limited embossed deluxe digipack with bonus tracks, and as regular CD. Vinyl version will also be available through Back On Black.

"I Begin" track listing:

01. Awake
02. This From The Past
03. Alt Liv
04. From The Running Of Blood
05. Hinstu Dagar
06. Diversions 1 (bonus track limited edition)
07. Aldrande Tre
08. Lit
09. The Wound
10. Bloodline
11. Diversions 2 (bonus track limited edition)

GOD SEED earlier in the year announced its new lineup. It is as follows:

* Tom Cato Visnes (a.k.a. King) (TEMPLE OF THE BLACK MOON, OV HELL, GORGOROTH) - Bass
* Kristian Espedal (a.k.a. Gaahl) (GORGOROTH, TRELLDOM, WARDRUNA) - Vocals
* Stian "Sir" Kårstad (TRELLDOM, DJERV) - Guitar
* Kenneth Kapstad (MOTORPSYCHO) - Drums
* Geir Bratland (DIMMU BORGIR) – Keyboards, Noise
* Lust Kilman (THE BATALLION, GRIMFIST) - Guitar

Commented King: "All members of GOD SEED have been carefully picked for their musical skills and devoted personalities. We aim to release an album which will sound different than what we have done in the past. The new members have been very important for creating a sound that hopefully will come across as unique and defining the new GOD SEED sound. From this moment, GOD SEED should not be viewed as a duo anymore, but as a band with six members."

GOD SEED's "Live At Wacken" DVD and CD was released on January 27 in Europe and January 31 in North America via Indie Recordings.

"Live At Wacken" includes footage of the group's infamous live show from the 2008 edition of the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany where they performed on the main stage in front of 75,000 screaming fans. The effort features session players Nick Barker (drums) and Ice Dale (guitar) alongside King and Gaahl.

GOD SEED came to life after Gaahl and King lost a court battle in early 2009 against guitarist Infernus (real name: Roger Tiegs) over the rights to the GORGOROTH band name.

Commented King: "GOD SEED represents a more spiritual side to us than what GORGOROTH did. GOD SEED represents the will to grow; the will to be the super man, so to speak. I think it's a suitable name for what we will represent in the future. I am also aware of the fact that we use the word 'God' in the name. It will challenge the weak-minded in the respect that we in the past used the word Satan a lot, but it's all about the same thing. The God within man, and the God within nature. I never believed in a Christian force named Satan. I believe in the God within man."

Gaahl left GOD SEED in 2009 because he chose to retire from metal music, but has since rejoined the group.

Dutch female-fronted thrashers IZEGRIM recently returned home from a European trek with ONSLAUGHT and CRIPPER. Instead of the traditional tour report, the band has posted a video diary featuring onstage and offstage footage from the tour set to the tune of "My Secret Society", off the band's 2011 Listenable Records release, "Code Of Consequences". Check it out below.

Immediately after the release of the band's 2009 EP, "Point Of No Return", IZEGRIM started writing/composing material for its new album. Their mission was to create the most versitale, riff-packed, in-your-face-sounding record in the history of IZEGRIM. After more than a year of working as hard as they ever did, they've accomplished their objectives. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Jörg Uken (Soundlodge Studio), this record has become exactly the way they wanted it to be.

IZEGRIM is:

Jeroen Wechgelaer - Guitar
Marloes Voskuil - Bass/Vocals
Bart Van Ginkel - Guitar
Ivo Maarhuis - Drums

Swedish death metallers SOREPTION will release their second album, "Engineering The Void", in early 2013 via Ninetone Records. The follow-up to 2010's "Deterioration Of Minds" was recorded, mixed and produced by Tommy Rehn at Ninetone Studios. The CD cover artwork was created by Raphael Gabrio of Insane Visions and can be seen below.

Formed in 2005, "SOREPTION unleash their surgically precise and unique, razorsharp voilence with technically and artistically advanced riffs topped off with in-your-face brutal vocals, leaving the listener nothing short of stunned and ready to bow down to the mature display of how death metal should be played," according to a press release.

SOREPTION is:

Fredrik Söderberg - Vocals
Anton Svedin - Guitars
Stefan Nordlander - Session Guitarist
Rickard Persson - Bass
Tony Westermark - Drums

"Embodiment", a brand new song from Australian/Los Angeles tech-metal masters DEVOLVED, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Reprisal", which will be released on November 20 via Unique Leader Records. The CD will feature guest appearances by Francesco Artusato (ALL SHALL PERISH), Nate Vennarucci (ONTOGENY, ANOMALOUS), Malcolm Pugh (DISKREET, A LOATHING REQUIEM) and Vishal Singh (ROBOTS PULLING LEVERS).

Commented DEVOLVED drummer, lyricist and founding member John Sankey: "I deliberately wanted to combine an organic death metal approach with more progressive and modern elements, while still incorporating a cold and futuristic soundscape which has always been a signature of our sound and concept.

"I had a very specific vision for this album and it is finally the definitive representation of what I have always wanted DEVOLVED to be.

"After our last studio release, 'Oblivion', I decided to work on my own and wrote all the new song structures and arrangements in their entirety by tracking just drums and vocals myself. Once they were complete, I recruited new guitarist Mark Hawkins [ROBOTS PULLING LEVERS] who then wrote and recorded all the guitar and bass parts. His involvement really allowed us to push the boundaries of each track and took the music to a totally new level of speed and technicality.

"To say the guitar work on this album is far beyond anything we have done before would be a huge understatement! New singer Mark Haggblad [UNVEIL THE STRENGTH] also brings a rejuvenated ferocity to the band; his relentless vocal delivery is extremely aggressive throughout each track while still maintaining a unique tone that fits the dynamics and diversity of the songs perfectly.

"It has been a renewed creative experience working with such focused and talented new members, and it has definitely allowed us to surpass anything the band has been capable of in the past. 'Reprisal' is without doubt the album I have always strived to create since the formation of DEVOLVED!"

"Reprisal" track listing:

01. Systematic Avenger
02. Accelerated Human Degeneration
03. Reprisal Of The Damned
04. Supremacy Enforced
05. Embodiment
06. Collateral Damage
07. Apocalyptic Visionary
08. Terminal Enslavement
09. Corrupted Mind Processor
10. Inanimate Infinity
11. (Cadence Of) The Dirge (EXHORDER cover; bonus track)

Sankey late last year recorded all the demo drum sessions for the new FEAR FACTORY album, "The Industrialist", and co-wrote and programmed all the drum parts, along with FF guitarist Dino Cazares, for the final CD. He was unable to join FEAR FACTORY as the band's new touring drummer due to visa restrictions.

Cazares previously stated about the new DEVOLVED material, "Systematic brutality at its best. Raising the bar once again with their intellectual song arrangements [and] insane drum patterns that would make any tech metal fan turn their heads. This band just keeps getting better and better. Welcome to the end of everything that you once knew and say hello to the future."

DEVOLVED's last album, "Oblivion", was released in May 2011 via Unique Leader Records.

"Embodiment" audio stream:

Long-defunct Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada-based thrashers DISCIPLES OF POWER have reformed.

The band split up in 2002 after a 15-year history that saw them release five full-length albums and perform numerous shows.

DISCIPLES OF POWER's new lineup consists of Wes Sontag (guitar) and Dean Relf (drums) alongside singer Shane Hawco (SECTION VIII, THORAZINE, EXIT STRATEGY, WAKE) and guitarist Ben Harbak (THE NOUMENON, ACANTHA, BEGRIME EXEMIOUS).

DISCIPLES OF POWER's last album, "In Dust We Trust", was released in 2001

For more information, visit DisciplesOfPower.com.

"Day By Day", the new video from Ohio metallers MISS MAY I, can be seen below. The clip was produced by Picture Machine Productions and directed by Andre Durand and Daniel Cummings.

Cleveland-based youth-culture magazine Alternative Press recently announced MISS MAY I as the headliner for its annual fall tour, The AP Tour Fall 2012, sponsored by Petersaysdenim. The tour, featuring a lineup handpicked by the AP staff, has just kicked off a 32-day trek that will wrap at the end of November. MISS MAY I is receivinge direct support from California heavy hitters THE GHOST INSIDE, melodic metal act LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES, Australia's modern metal quintet THE AMITY AFFLICTION, and technical metal up-and-comers GLASS CLOUD.

MISS MAY I's new album, "At Heart", sold 12,000 copies in its first week of release to debut at position No. 32 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was described by Revolver magazine as having "plenty of monster tracks, propulsive riffs, and searing breakdowns" (May/June 2012 issue). Released on June 12 via Rise Records, the effort was helmed by famed producer Machine (LAMB OF GOD, EVERY TIME I DIE, SUICIDE SILENCE).

"We Come In Peace", the new DVD from Swedish industrial metallers PAIN, will be released in Europe on November 16 via Nuclear Blast. The DVD+2CD digibook and the Blu-ray+2CD digibook includes the entire final show of the first leg of PAIN's European tour on November 13, 2011 at Debaser Medis in Stockholm and clips from the band's July 2012 appearance at the Masters Of Rock festival in Vizovice, Czech Republic, as well as "tons of crazy backstage and behind-the-scenes footage."

A trailer for "We Come In Peace" can be seen below.

PAIN, MOONSPELL, SWALLOW THE SUN and LAKE OF TEARS will join forces for the "Into Darkness Tour 2012" in November.

PAIN's seventh album, "You Only Live Twice", was released in June 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Regarding the album's cover artwork, Tägtgren previously said, "I really wanted something 'Nightmare Before Christmas' meets 'Alice In Wonderland' kind of feeling but with our mascot, the Painhead in it. And Heile created that after what I wanted. And he did it in his own way. It really has this kinda Tim Burton feel to it. It will be really crazy with a big backdrop. We also gonna do some inflatable stuff with our Painhead. Its gonna be our Eddie, like IRON MAIDEN has it."

"Time I", the -awaited new album from Finnish epic metallers WINTERSUN, will be released via Nuclear Blast Records on the following dates:

October 19: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Norway
October 23: Italy
October 24: Sweden
October 22: North America, Rest Of Europe

"Time I" is now available for streaming at Wintersun.fi.

According to WINTERSUN mainman Jari Mäenpää, there are several reasons why the band's new effort, "Time" is being released as two separate albums, titled "Time I" and "Time II". He says:

* "All the 80 minutes of material won't fit on a regular CD and we didn't want to cut anything out.
* "We want you to be able to hear new material sooner and not wait any longer and we want to go on tour sooner.
* "The music is very full and complex, so listening this kind of 'hard listening (not easy listening)' material straight for 80 minutes is a bit too much (even for me).
* "Both albums will be approximately. nice 40 min epic packages of fireworks.
* "We like the idea of releasing two albums within one year, so the band will stay more visible longer, which is important in these 'modern times.' No more years of silence for us!"

"Time I" track listing:

01. When Time Fades Away
02. Sons Of Winter And Stars
I) Rain Of Stars
II) Surrounded By Darkness
III) Journey Inside A Dream
IV) Sons of Winter And Stars
03. Land Of Snow And Sorrow
04. Darkness And Frost
05. Time

"Time II" will be released in 2013.

WINTERSUN will headline this year's edition of the Heidenfest tour, set to take place in October. Support on the trek will come from KORPIKLAANI, VARG, TROLLFEST and KRAMPUS.

WINTERSUN's debut CD was released in September 2004 through Nuclear Blast Records.

The latest episode of Whitesnake TV, in which WHITESNAKE frontman David Coverdale answers video questions from his fans about his life, music and career, can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Albania's Top Channel web site, Coverdale was asked what fans can expect from the band in the near future. "I am always reticent to discuss in detail what we're planning as I still enjoy 'surprises.'"

He continued, "In this day and age, with global technology and overwhelming social media, it is getting harder and harder to keep anything secret until they are ready to be presented. We host a very interactive global web site with Whitesnake.com and I answer people's questions as much as I can without giving too much away."

"We are very, very active this year behind the scenes. Many exciting things in the pipeline. Two projects I can tell you about are related to completing the 'Forevermore' project. An in-concert DVD from last year's tour and also a double live CD featuring different shows. It's shaping up very well indeed and I think a lot of people will enjoy re-living the concert experience they had with us in 2011. We have also started Whitesnake TV, which is off to a fantastic start and seems to be making a lot of people happy."

Asked if WHITESNAKE will tour next year, Coverdale said, "There are plans to start in Europe in May, I heard, but as yet there is nothing concrete. But, of course, we hope to be out there again. We have too much fun with audiences to stay at home for too long!"

Regarding whether all his plans involve WHITESNAKE, or if fans can expect any other collaborations or solo projects, Coverdale said, "WHITESNAKE is my priority and at this time I have no other plans to collaborate with other artists. But, you know rock and roll… Everything can change with a phone call."

Part 2:

On September 25, Eagle Rock Entertainment released the Freddie Mercury DVD and Blu-ray, "The Great Pretender".

A new eight-minute clip promoting the set, dubbed "Extra Stories From The Great Pretender", can be seen below.

Created by the same team behind the widely acclaimed "Queen: Days Of Our Lives" BBC documentary, "The Great Pretender", in similar vein, presents a compelling insight into its subject matter, unearthing previously undiscovered or rarely seen footage and presented for the first time in High Definition.

Produced and directed by Rhys Thomas, life-long QUEEN fan and expert (to the extent that Rhys famously broke the "Mastermind" all-time record points score with a specialist subject of QUEEN), Rhys has this time turned his attention to the Freddie archive, going back as early as 1976 in search of vintage gems which reveal more than ever before the inside story of Freddie's life and career and the solo projects he worked on outside of QUEEN.

The extensive archive footage is drawn from rare interviews with Freddie, concerts, video shoots and personal material, much of it being seen for the first time, along with newly filmed contributions from fellow QUEEN members Brian May and Roger Taylor, QUEEN manager Jim Beach, soprano Montserrat Caballé, composers David Arnold and Mike Moran, lyricist Tim Rice, comedian and lifelong fan Matt Lucas and many more.

From it emerges a portrait of a man who was very different to his flamboyant onstage public persona.

Among the treasures to be anticipated, "The Great Pretender" includes for the first time ever Freddie and Rod Stewart singing their demo for "Take Another Piece Of My Heart", an unreleased song from 1984, a snippet of the unreleased Michael Jackson / Freddie Mercury collaboration "There Must Be More To Life Than This", and Freddie with the Royal Ballet 1979 — never seen in full before.

Rhys, whose extensive scouting for lost material turned up a copy of the band's first TV appearance among the belongings of late comedian Dick Emery, brings to the light Freddie's earliest filmed interview from 1976 unearthed in Australia and another unseen interview from 1976 filmed by NBC in the USA.

Rhys also found 10 cans of Freddie's 39th Black and White birthday party in Mrs. Henderson's nightclub in Munich in 1985. Originally filmed for the video for "Living On My Own", and promptly banned by Freddie's record company because of its cross-dressing theme, there's much to be enjoyed in watching Freddie and his friends go full out in their efforts to help Freddie celebrate his last birthday before turning 40.

On top of this, "The Great Pretender" has a feast of outtakes from the video shoots for "I Want To Break Free", "One Vision", "Days Of Our Lives", "I Want It All", "A Kind Of Magic", "Princes Of The Universe", "Living On My Own", "Born To Love You", "Great Pretender", "Made In Heaven" and "Who Wants To Live Forever".

As bonus features (that will not make up part of the version to be broadcast by the BBC), the program includes "Freddie Mercury Goes Solo" and an extended interview with Montserrat Caballé.

Coinciding with the release of "The Great Pretender" DVD will come the release of the new "Barcelona: Special Edition" album with Freddie and Montserrat's original album re-recorded with full 80 piece orchestra (a feature on the making of this album is included on both formats) and a new book, also entitled "The Great Pretender" with matching artwork, in September. The Savoy Hotel hosts the second "Freddie For A Day" charity event on September 3 in aid of The Mercury Phoenix Trust - Fighting Aids Worldwide and there is a special premiere of "The Great Pretender" film at BAFTA on September 6.

Freddie Mercury was one of the most charismatic, complex and fascinating characters in British rock music. A generous, caring, thoughtful man with a self-deprecating sense of humor and a genuine passion for music. Freddie Mercury touched the lives of millions through his career both with QUEEN and as a solo performer and this new program is sure to delight and inform his legions of fans as never before.

"Lake Of Fire", the new Lars Glendell-directed video from Swedish metallers REVENGIA, can be seen below. The song is the title track of the band's new album, which will be released on November 11 via Dirge Entertainment through Sound Pollution distribution. The CD was mastered at Bohus Sound Studios by Dragan Tanaskovic.

The band previously described its new songs as "heavy, fast, doomy and melodic, just as usual in REVENGIA-land!"

"Lake Of Fire" track listing:

01. Free From Sin
02. His Will
03. Lake Of Fire
04. The Day I Die
05. Alone
06. Purest Of Emotions
07. Sin For Sale
08. Asylum
09. Bloodline
10. Termination By The Hand Of Creation
11. The Galleon
12. The One (bonus track on first pressing)

The cover artwork was painted by Petra Christensen and can be seen below.

REVENGIA recently announced the addition of touring guitarist Andreas Stolt (NASCENCY) to the group's ranks.

Andreas will make his live debut with REVENGIA on November 3 at Sparbankshallen in Varberg, Sweden.

REVENGIA's last album, "Eraser", was released in Japan on November 21, 2007 via Soundholic Records.

The band in 2007 split with ARCH ENEMY drummer Daniel Erlandsson due to scheduling conflicts. He has since been replaced by Conny Pettersson (ANATA, TRENDKILL, ETERNAL LIES).

Benny Moberg, guitarist of Swedish death metallers MALFEITOR and a founding member of BLOOD MORTIZED, was involved in a serious car accident this past Sunday morning (October 14) in Stockholm.

According to reports, the police was chasing a robbery suspect in a stolen vehicle when the suspect decided to drive on the wrong side of the road, causing a collision with the taxi that was carrying Benny and his family.

A post-accident photo of the taxi can be seen below.

Moberg and his family are all said to be in the hospital now and are expected to fully recover from their injuries.

MALFEITOR's latest album, "Dum Morior Orior", came out in April via Hellthrasher Productions.

Audio samples of the tracks that will appear on "Showdown", the forthcoming second album from Italian hard rockers VOODOO HIGHWAY, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The follow-up to 2011's "Broken Uncle's Inn" was produced/mixed by the Dysfunction Productions (Anthony Phillips, John Wetton, Logan Mader) and mastered by Ue Nastasi (GOJIRA, AC/DC, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) of Sterling Sound Studios. The CD artwork was created by U.K. graphic designer Storm Thorgerson, who has previously worked with PINK FLOYD, LED ZEPPELIN, BLACK SABBATH, DREAM THEATER and AUDIOSLAVE, among many others.

VOODOO HIGHWAY Is a powerful new quintet featuring Federico Di Marco (vocals), Filippo Cavallini (bass), Matteo Bizzarri (guitar), Alessandro Duò (keyboards) and Vincenzo Zairo (drums).

METALLICA and IRON MAIDEN have been confirmed for next year's Rock In Rio festival, set to take place September 13-15, 2013 and September 19-22, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

METALLICA will perform at the event on September 19. They state, "We are super-psyched to be returning to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for our sixth Rock In Rio!"

As previously reported, SEPULTURA will also perform at next year's Rock In Rio. The band will be joined on stage by Les Tambours Du Bronx, featuring sixteen drummers from France.

Tickets will be available in a special pre-sale for Rock In Rio members beginning October 23 at 12:01 a.m. Rock In Rio cards, the equivalent of a ticket in advance for one day, will go on sale on October 30 at 12:01 a.m. and this sale is open only to fans who are Brazilian residents. For those of you who live outside the country and plan to travel to Brazil, there will be an international ticket sale in April 2013.

Slovenian thrash metallers THRAW have Signed With Metal Tank Records.
Thraw are currently in an early phase of pre-production for their first full-length album. The album will be recorded in the following months.

The band commented on the upcoming release: “If you like the aggression, complexity and brutality of DARK ANGEL, SADUS, RAZOR etc., combined with the sense of melody, put into limelight by FORBIDDEN and alike, then Thraw will surely become one of your favourite acts to bang your head on.”

The remastered track ‘Injecting Hate’, the title track off their second album, released in 2008, can be heard below:

New York/New Jersey-based symphonic power metallers OPERATIKA ELEMENT (formerly OPERATIKA) have released two new studio diaries. In the first video the band recording new material for their upcoming album. In the second video SYMPHONY X’s Mike LePond records bass parts for the upcoming single ‘Haunting In the Night’ at Barber Shop Studios in Lake Hopatcong, NJ.

Watch both clips below:





For more details visit Facebook.

Indian doom metallers BEVAR SEA have released their self-titled debut album for streaming and purchase via this location.

The album was recorded by guitarists Srikanth Panaman and Rahul Chacko at The Doom Cave in early 2012. Drums were recorded live by Basement Tapes Studios in late 2011. It was mixed and mastered by Billy Anderson.

Artwork and layout was done by Rahul Chacko and can be seen below:
Tracklisting is as follows:

‘The Smiler’
‘Abishtu’
‘Universal Sleeper’
‘Mono Gnome’

Italian melodic metal band TWINTERA recently signed with Logic(il)Logic Records, who will release the band's debut album, Lines, on November 16th.

Twintera have unveiled the artwork for Lines, and reveal that EVERGREY guitarist/singer Tom S. Englund will be a special guest vocalist on the song 'Oversight'.
Lines tracklisting:

'71389'
'By Hand Of Justice'
'Where We Land'
'On The Edge Of...'
'Oversight'
'Cool 18'
'Run!'
'Burning Heart'
'Waves'
'Killing Your Feelings'
'Bunch Of Motherfuckers'
According to a press release, Lines, “is the result of composition without barriers, a combination of the band’s will to have fun creating rock n’ roll and its shared passion for music. Its sounds reflect classic heavy metal, with nuances that are inspired by the most disparate musical genres.”

A teaser for the new album can be seen below:
The band’s tour schedule includes the following dates:

October
20 - Blocco Music Hall - S.Giovanni Lupatoto, Italy

November
23 - Art Café - Vicenza, Italy
More on Twintera at this location.

DYNAHEAD's mastermind Caio Duarte recently announced that the group is recording a successor for the 2011 release Youniverse, issued via MS Metal Records.
Duarte comments: "I can't reveal much on its contents yet, except that it'll be a conceptual piece, to be released in two parts. This first part is due to early 2013, but hopefully we'll have some music available for you before that. We're working hard to make the most interesting, crazy, beautiful metal record ever. Or at least one that doesn't suck.”

Dynahead will periodically post pictures, videos and more info on their official Facebook page as the recording ensues.

The first part of Dynahead's new album will be released in the first half of 2013 in Brazil by MS Metal Records, and is looking for labels interested in releasing in other territories.

Stay tuned for updates.

Members of Serbian black/death metal band BANE have announced that they have formed a new alternative rock/metal project titled KEYCHAIN.
The first single ‘These Empty Skies’ is now available for free download at this location.

The music video for the track can be viewed below:

Season Of Mist have inked a deal with progressive metallers DISPERSE. The Polish band’s sophomore album, title to be announced, should hit the stores some time in 2013.
“I'm so happy that this album is finally finished”, guitarist Jakub ?ytecki comments. “I started to write some of the very first songs almost three years ago. As a band, we had a lot of ups and downs during that time, but thanks to help of our families and friends, we could push the things forward and finish what we'd started. Anyway, there was something that we had to change. We had to say goodbye to two of our members and take new people on board to create fresh and inspiring vibes in the band. Marcin and Przemek - thanks for the past. Maciej, Daniel, Wojtek – thanks for the future! Signing with Season Of Mist is a really promising step in Disperse's career. We can't wait to see where our common journey will take us! Thanx Michael and Co for your appreciation and support!”
Updates to follow. More on Disperse at this location.

U.D.O.'s Live In Sofia and Thunderball are both set to receive vinyl release.

Thunderball will be released via Night Of The Vinyl Dead on splatter vinyl on October 19th. This edition is limited to 400 copies.

The release of Live In Sofia is scheduled for December 14th via High Roller Records in three different versions:

3-LP, black, limited to 200 copies
3-LP, brown, limited to 200 copies
3-LP, gold, limited to 100 copies

Pre-orders for each of the aforementioned titles can now be placed by clicking here.